murder. As it was not yet light, my spirits were fluttered at the thought of passing this place. Luckily, I perceived a light on the road before me-it was the driver of Clarke's broad-wheeled waggon, who carried a lanthorn in his hand. I was fortunate to fall in with a companion at this moment, and joined him with great pleasure, telling him everything about my journey. As we passed the gallows, however, I could not help, now and then, glancing my eye towards it, expecting to see some spirit flitting through the dark firs that surrounded it When we were clear of this horrible place, I was about to trot off; but we were just entering upon Birstall sands, a noted spot for highwaymen, and I thought it better to submit to the snail-like pace of the waggon till we had got clear of this second danger. I then made the best of my way, and did not stop till I arrived at Derby.

As I rode up the main street, it was a question. with me where I should put up. I wanted my dinner, and so did the pony. I looked at every sign. At last we came to a small inn-the Horse and Trumpet --which I thought I had courage to enter. In the room, into which I was shown, I espied a trumpet hanging up, and, to my comfort, I found that the landlord was a musician. The family dinner was just ready, and I was ready to join it. After making a hearty dinner, I ventured to call for a glass of rum and water, called grog-ale I had never tasted. With this I felt much elated, and proved very good com

pany. At three o'clock, I ordered out my pony

from

the stable, where I had seen him fed, paid my reckoning, and set off for Duffield. I forgot to state that I had saved my money to buy myself a pair of jockey boots; and, what was more brilliant in my eyes, as an appendage to the boots, was a pair of silver spurs, which gave a finish to my equestrian appearance. In half an hour after leaving Derby, I was at my grandmother's house. The good old lady pulled me off my Bucephalus, and almost smothered me with kisses. My pony was quartered at Mr. Wood's, a near neighbour, who occupied the water-mill over the Derwent. I took great delight in my visits to this gentleman's house, for he had a daughter of my own age, in whom I was much interested. Desirous of making a smart appearance in the eyes of. my little Daphne, I was careful to be dressed in my best; and I well recollect looking in the glass and approving the figure I beheld. My rosy cheeks, bright teeth, and wavy locks, still remain to this day impressed on my recollection, with undiminished clearness. This will scarcely be credited by many; but the poet Andersen says, "the mind forgets nothing; everything can again be awakened, as fresh and living as the moment when it happened." The performance of this journey raised me in my own estimation not a little, and from it I acquired a confidence that never forsook me.

CHAPTER VIII.

GREAT MEETING-YOUNG

SINGER-FLOWERS-PSALMODY

MESSIAH.

The congregation of Dissenters who worship in the Great Meeting had its rise Aug. 24, 1662, when fortyone ministers in Leicestershire, and as many in Northamptonshire, gave up their livings, rather than conform to the ritual of the Church. A great portion of the congregations followed the preachers, and built meeting houses at Harborough, Kibworth, Wigston, Narborough, Hinckley, Mountsorrel, Loughborough, Bardon, and elsewhere. This event laid the foundation of that vast spread of Dissent which prevails in the two counties.

As in the time of Luther, psalmody was a rallying-point among seceders, so the Great Meeting, Leicester, being the centre from which the love of religious liberty emanated, psalm-singing became prevalent among the pious families. The tunes were of the most lugubrious cast; but, as the age softened from rigid Puritanism, more sprightly tunes found their way into the conventicles. My father, a great lover of music, who assisted as an amateur performer in the coronation ceremonies of George III., was the first to infuse a more cheerful style into the singing at the Great Meeting. This is alluded to in Nicholls's

History of Leicestershire, where the choir is spoken of as "forming a musical society, cultivated with great care, and justly celebrated for its excellence." This is the more remarkable, as the Scotch Presbyterians have shown a total neglect of sacred music in their worship, even to this day. It may be said, I was nursed in psalmody. At the age of five, by the offer of some ripe cherries, I was induced to sing the solo in Knapp's wedding anthem, "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house." Set upon a bench in the chapel, I thus made my debut as a singer. As I grew up, As I grew up, I was not insensible to the distinction which this gave me among boys of my own age, and, with a good ear and a good voice, I wanted no incentive to excel. My chief merit lay in the obvious pleasure I took in singing, and it was evident that I sang from the heart. With what pleasure did I hear the church bells announce the return of the Sabbath. Sunday mornings, then, were gay among the lower orders. Every one appeared in a bright suit of clothes, and, as the cultivation of flowers was then a prevalent taste, many had pinks or roses stuck in the button-holes of their coats-some came to chapel with flowers in their mouths. After service, I frequently went with my father to see their nicelykept gardens, all of which have now unhappily disappeared. I never can forget the mournful ditties of our forefathers, which gave a tinge to my early thoughts. How dismal were the tunes called Gar

grave, Stroud, and Bangor, rendered still more so by the practice of singing the note below the key (in the minor mood) a full tone, instead of half a tone. This antiquated method still continues; I heard it, in a Welsh congregation, at Aberystwith, seventy-six years afterwards. In vain have I sought for the small anthem books of that day-printed long before any publications issued from the cathedrals. A great

advance was made by the Musical Magazine, 1780, in which the Messiah was first published in the G clef. All the treble songs I sang with passionate fondness. It was at the time of possessing this book, that I fell into a deep cistern, and was but just saved from drowning. My father called upon me to sing a song of thanksgiving for my narrow escape, and placed before me the song, "I know that my Redeemer liveth,' which I sang with a sorrowful heart, and eyes full of

tears.

وو

Bond, the organist of Coventry, published a set of anthems, quite suitable for the very mean talent of that day. In this collection there was one for Christmasday, which I always sang with heart-felt glee; since, immediately after service, we dined with my grandfather, where we had plum-pudding, baked and boiled. Dr. Boyce's anthems were printed soon after, which proved a mine of excellent music. Unfortunately, there was but one solo for a treble-boy in the book written in the C clef. I sang all the tenor songs. The last movement of Praise the Lord, O ye servants,